Peronist guerrillas join Marxists

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33676, 28 October 1974, Page 13

Peronist guerrillas join Marxists

f.V.Z F l K«u!<t—(...pifriuhn BUENOS \IRES. October 27. \ Peronist guerrilla group xesterdax announced that it was abandoning the Peronist ranks and joining forces with Argentina's Marxist “People's Rc\olutionarx \riny" E.R.I*. .

The “Peronist Armed forces” (I’.A.P.) says in a communique that it is responsible for the latest attempted assassination of an army officer in Buenos Aires on Saturday in a campaign begun by the E.R.P. four weeks ago.

It dubs the late President Juan Peron "bourgeois,” and the Government of his widow and successor as President Maria Estela Peron, as including "decidedly Fascist sectors.”

The F.A.P., small but violently nationalist, has claimed responsibility for several cold-blooded slayings of foreign businessmen and officials of foreign companies in the 17 months since Peron-

ism returned t<> power in May. 1973. These include the killing of Mr John Swint, an American Ford manager in the indus trial city of Cordoba last November, and the killing of the labour relations manger of

the French-owned Ika- ' Renault motor compant in Cordoba in August. Another report from Buenos Aires savs a retired arms general claims that about 200.000 people are involved in the activities of Argentina's guerrilla oigamsations. Bi igadier-General Alberto Marini, an expert in strategic studies and mountain warfare and a writer and professor of (history. told an audience ot retired military officers that "the guerrilla apparatus in Argentina is made up ot 30,000 or 40,000 people in each of the six zones into which they have divided the i country.” Although Argentina's gueririllas are a major problem for 'the Peronist Government and the armed forces. General Marini’s estimate of their strength brought gasps of amazement from his audience. "Including fighting guerrillas. logistical support and permanent or temporary collaborators, about 200,000 people are currently involved.” he said.